Method of protecting the open top of a beer can and a soda can against contamination by insects, dirt and debris

ABSTRACT

A cover for the open top of a soda can or beer can is substantially round and has a pair of parallel sides together with an annular bevel or chamfer to accommodate either a soda can or a beer can. The beer can has a larger diameter at its annular rim than that of the soda can, so that (in use) the cover is reversed. The cover may contain a trademark, logo, company name or message for promotional purposes. An alternate cover is substantially half-round, and a further embodiment is substantially arcuate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No.10/788,112 filed Feb. 26, 2004, which is incorporated in its entirety byreference hereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to soda cans or beer cans which have been“popped” open, and more particularly, to a simple removable cover whichwill readily accommodate either an opened soda can or an opened beercan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

After a soda can or a beer can has been “popped” open, the consumerusually takes a few swallows and then lays down the open can on a table,counter, picnic table or other convenient surface.

As a result, flies, bees or other insects, as well as dirt or debris mayget into the open can. Sometimes, the ashes from a cigar or cigarettemay be flicked into the open top, inadvertently, and possibly thecigarette butt may be dropped into the open can.

This is distasteful and unhygienic and in the case of a bee or beescongregating around the opening in the top of the can, may result in abee sting or stings and then become very painful if not dangerous.

In the prior art, this problem has been recognized, as for example, inthe following patents and published applications. Inventor(s) Patents:Patent No. Eberhart 4,749,100 Wehnert, III 4,815,628 Cerrone, Jr.4,869,389 Boyd et al 4,917,258 Kellner 4,938,379 Dvoracek 4,961,510 Diaz5,139,163 Yost 5,452,818 Tucker 5,203,467 Griffin et al 5,732,851 Lewis5,887,742 Fenton 5,984,127 Barous 6,073,797

Design Patents Inventor(s) Patent No. Sarnoff et al Des. 358,311Carducci et al D488,669

Published Patent Applications Inventor(s) Patent No. Hirota et al US2002/0008109 Weber US 2003/0102313

While the problem has been recognized, the disclosed solutions leavemuch to be desired. Basically, the prior art solutions are complicated,unwieldily and costly; hence to the best of my knowledge and behalf,have never been commercialized in widespread usage, nor are they readilyavailable on the market at the present time.

Another problem results from the dimensional difference between theconventional soda and beer cans, respectively. While the “pop” tabs arequite standard, nevertheless, the beer can actually is larger than thesoda can measured by the inner diameter (“I.D.”) of the annular rim atthe top of the can. The difference has indeed been recognized by atleast one of the prior art patents (namely, Weber, '313) but, again, thepreferred solution is unsatisfactory.

What is needed is a simple, inexpensive solution to this problem oflong-standing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide asimple, inexpensive solution which alleviates the disadvantages anddeficiencies of the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a removablecover which is universal for either a soda can or a beer can.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a universalcover which is easy and convenient to use, and which may bemass-produced at relatively little cost.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a universalcover which may be used as a “give-away” for marketing and promotionalpurposes.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a preferredembodiment thereof is herein illustrated and described for use incombination with a soda can or a beer can. The beer can has a topportion formed by an annular lip which has a larger diameter than thecorresponding diameter of the annular lip of the top portion of the sodacan. A removable universal cover is provided for use when one of thecans is popped open, comprising a round disc having a pair of sides andfurther having a circumference provided with an annular bevel orchamfer, such that one side of the disc has a larger diameter than theother side of the disc. In order to cover the open top of the soda can,the other side of the disc is placed on top of the soda can; and inorder to cover the open top of the beer can, the disc is reversed andthe one side of the disc is placed on top of the beer can. As a result,flies, insects, cigarette ashes, dirt or debris are prevented fromentering into the open top, thereby improving the hygienic and safetyconditions.

Preferably, one of the sides of the disc has a logo, slogan or trademarkon it; and in a preferred embodiment, the sides of the disc aresubstantially parallel.

In an alternate embodiment, a substantially half-round disc is provided;and in a further embodiment, a portion of the half-round disc is cutout, so that it is substantially arcuate. Each of these embodiments hasthe bevel or chamfer, however, and functions basically the same as thepreferred embodiment.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following specification, taken in conjunction with the encloseddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate the problem in the prior art.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a consumer opening a soda can (or a beercan).

FIG. 2 is a further pictorial view, corresponding substantially to FIG.1, but showing the consumer taking a few swallows.

FIG. 3 shows the consumer placing the open can on top of a picnic table.

FIG. 4 (drawn to an enlarged scale) shows a bee, attracted to thecontents of the can, landing on the open top of the can.

FIG. 5 shows the consumer, about to take a few more swallows, beingstung by the bee.

FIGS. 6-13 illustrate the simple solution of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of one side of the universal, removable,one-piece molded, round cover of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section thereof, taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 6,and showing the annular chamfer on the circumference of the cover, suchthat the one side of the cover has a smaller diameter than the otherside of the cover.

FIG. 8 is an exploded elevational view, showing the cover about to beplaced on the open top of a soda can.

FIG. 9 shows the cover on top of the soda can.

FIG. 10 corresponds to FIG. 8, but shows the cover reversed and about tobe placed on the open top of a beer can.

FIG. 11 shows the cover on top of the beer can.

FIG. 12 shows a logo or promotional message on at least one side of thecover.

FIG. 13 shows a trademark on the cover.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of an alternate cover, which is substantiallya half-round.

FIG. 15 is a cross-section thereof, taken along the lines 15-15 of FIG.14.

FIG. 16 is a further alternate cover, wherein the half-round has acut-out and is substantially arcuate.

FIG. 17 is a cross-section thereof, taken along the lines 17-17 of FIG.16.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Again, the problems in the prior art are illustrated graphically (anddramatically) in FIGS. 1-5.

In FIG. 1, a typical can C (soda or beer) is being “popped” opened by aconsumer, and in FIG. 2, the consumer (person P) takes a few swallowsand (see FIG. 3) puts the can C down on the table T. In FIG. 4, a bee B(fly or other insect, dirt or debris, etc.) lands on the open top of thecan C.

In FIG. 5, the person P has lifted up can C to take another drink and,unfortunately, is stung by the bee B.

The improvement of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 6-17.

With respect to FIGS. 6 and 7, the cover 10 is basically a round discthat may be molded very inexpensively out of readily available plasticmaterials. The cover 10 has a pair of sides 11 and 12, respectively,which preferably are substantially parallel.

Additionally, the cover 10 has an annular chamfer 13 around itscircumference, such that side 11 has a larger diameter (denoted by A)than the diameter A¹ of side 12, as shown more clearly in FIG. 7.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, to cover the open soda can 14, thecover 10 is placed on top of the soda can 14 such that the smallerdiameter A¹ of the cover 10 is seated or nested within the annular rim15 of the soda can 14.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, to cover the open beer can 16, thecover 10 is reversed and placed on top of the beer can 16, such thatside 11 of the cover C (with its larger diameter A) is seated or nestedwithin the annular rim 17 of the beer can 16, it being appreciated thatthe diameter of the annular rim 17 of the beer can 16 is larger than thediameter of the annular rim 15 of the soda can 14.

With reference to FIG. 12, a company's logo 18 may be placed on both orat least one of the sides 11 or 12 of the cover 10. In FIG. 12, the logo18 is on side 12 of the cover 10. In lieu of the logo 18, a promotionalor inspirational message (not shown) may be placed on the side or sides11, 12 of the cover 10. The logo 18 or message may be hot stamped on tothe cover 10, or via a decal, or molded in, or using any other availableproduction process.

With reference to FIG. 13, a trademark 19 may be placed on side 12 ofthe cover 10.

Since the cover 10 is so inexpensive, relatively speaking, it readilylends itself as an advertising or “promo” give-away item.

Alternate embodiments of the invention are shown in FIGS. 14-17.

In FIGS. 14 and 15, a cover 20 is substantially a half-round; and inFIGS. 16 and 17, a half-rounded cover 21 has a cut-out 22, so that thecover 21 is substantially arcuate. Both covers 20 and 21 are providedwith the bevel or chamfer 13 to accommodate the soda cans 14 and thebeer cans 16, respectively, and function similarly to the cover 10 ofFIGS. 6-13. Additionally, the cover 21 (for example) may carry the logo19, if desired.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the present invention greatlyalleviates the disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art byproviding a simple, easy-to-use, very inexpensive cover that readilylends itself to high-volume production and widespread usage.

Additionally, the chamfered (beveled) annular edge of the disk 10 couldbe used to lift up the tab on the can, thus saving wear and tear onone's fingernails or thumb nail; and this is another advantage andfeature of the present invention.

Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from thebasic spirit of the present invention. For example, the presentinvention works equally as well with the older design of the pull orring tab, and will work equally as well with future tabs or theirequivalent which may be developed and marketed. Accordingly, it will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of theappended claims, the invention may be practiced other than has beenspecifically described herein.

1-7. (canceled)
 8. The method of protecting an opened “pop top” can ofsoda or beer against dirt, insects, debris, wherein both cans have a topportion provided with a circumferential annular lip, the annular lip ofone can having an internal diameter which is larger than an annular lipof the other can, comprising the steps of providing a cover comprising asubstantially-flat annular disc having a chamfered circumferential edge,thereby defining a pair of substantially-flat sides of the disc, suchthat one side of the disc has a diameter which is larger than thediameter of the other side of the disc, opening one can, placing thedisc on the top of one can with the one larger side of the disc facingdown, alternately opening the other can, and placing the disc on the topof the other can with the other smaller side of the disc facing down. 9.A method of covering an open top of a lift tab can of a beverage toprevent flies, insects, cigarette ashes, dirt or debris from enteringinto the can, the top of a beer can having an annular lip defining alarger diameter and the top of a soda can having an annular lip defininga smaller diameter, the method comprising the steps of: providing acircular disc having a top and a parallel bottom, the top of the dischaving a larger diameter than the bottom of the disc, the diameter ofthe top of the disc being receivable within the annular lip of the beercan and the diameter of the bottom of the disc being receivable withinthe annular lip of the top of the soda can, placing the circular disc onthe open top of the beer can with the top of the disc in contact withthe top of the beer can, and placing the circular disc on the open topof the soda can with the bottom of the disc in contact with the top ofthe soda can wherein the circular disc may be used on the beer can orthe soda can.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the top of the disc isspaced apart from the bottom of the disc by an annular chamferedcircumference.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the top or the bottomof the disc has a logo, slogan, or trademark on it.
 12. The method ofcovering an open top of a lift tab soda can or a beer can, wherein thebeer can has a top portion formed by an annular lip which has a largerdiameter than a corresponding diameter of an annular lip of the topportion of the soda can, comprising the steps of: providing a removableuniversal cover independent of the can for use when one of the cans ispopped open, said cover comprising a substantially half-round dischaving a top and a parallel bottom, a planar edge and an arcuate edgebetween the top and the bottom, the arcuate edge being chamfered, suchthat the top of the disc has a larger diameter than the bottom of thedisc, covering the open top of the soda can by placing the bottom of thedisc on the open top of the soda can, covering the open top of the beercan by reversing the disc and placing the top of the disc on the opentop of the beer can, thereby preventing flies, insects, cigarette ashes,dirt or debris from entering into the open top, and thereby improvingthe hygienic and safety conditions.